Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Compliance definition

What does Compliance mean? In legal practice, compliance describes the processes by which an organisation and its officers ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulatory requirements, licence conditions, professional rules, court orders and relevant industry codes. It is a descriptive expression rather than a single defined legal term, though specific regimes prescribe detailed obligations (for example, UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018 and, in Ireland, EU GDPR; anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules; and sectoral conduct requirements). Key features include identifying legal and regulatory obligations; implementing proportionate policies, controls and training; monitoring and record-keeping; regulatory notifications and reporting (including suspicious activity reports); and engagement with...

Business and human rights for law firms: implementing the UNGPs across operations, supply chains and client relationships—policies, due diligence, leverage, grievance mechanisms and professional duties

Published by a LexisNexis Practice Compliance expert

Practice notes

Practice Note

There is growing recognition that human rights are not solely the preserve of nation states or international organisations. Companies now function around the world, with ever more intricate corporate structures and supply networks. The way they operate can affect human rights in multiple ways, both beneficial and harmful. In response, a range of international initiatives has been developed to increase business awareness of, and respect for, human rights, foremost among them the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). As commercial entities, law firms are obliged to uphold human rights as set out in the UNGPs. Nevertheless, putting this corporate duty into practice may appear challenging to reconcile with lawyer–client relationships.

This Practice Note identifies the key issues for law firms when assessing their business and human rights responsibilities in relation to their own business and supply chain, and the issues that may arise from client relationships. It also provides practical suggestions for implementing human rights policies and procedures within a law firm. This Practice Note should be read in conjunction with the Practice Notes below:

What business needs to know about human rights
The UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights—practical compliance...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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